How old are your clothes? And do you remember where and when you got them?

[CeartGoLeor]

Another thread currently going (about people slavishly copying someone else's house interior or clothes) got me thinking about why, in the highly unlikely event that anyone should want to do so with mine, they wouldn't be able to. Mainly because I keep clothes for a long time, and am not fashion-y -- so you couldn't replicate my look by buying a bunch of this season's stuff on the high street.

That got me thinking about how old some of my clothes are. Often I've no idea, but sometimes I do. I have some men's cashmere jumpers I bought at an outlet in New York in 1995, a wool coat I bought in Oxford in 1997 with my first scholarship cheque (baked beans for weeks after), and a dressing gown made out of quilted cotton sari fabric that I was given by the friend who made it around 1997/8.

How old are the oldest garments (other than vintage stuff, which was old before you bought it) that you still wear and do you remember where you got them from?

[cressetmama]

I have wonderful stole I bought for a party in 1982, which goes with everything; a brocade tux that I bought (secondhand) in New York in 1983/4, which still comes out for evening events, and several suits that I rotate in and out, mainly as separate jackets, skirts or trousers. These were usually bought in posh sales from 1985 -1995. Also lots of scarves that I have had for even longer, plus a number of coats and dresses handed down from my great grandmother and a glamorous great aunt, who died in 1985. It does tend to be evening and dressed up stuff; the rest is Uniqlo!

[LooksLikeImStuckHere]

I have a pair of navy Topshop combats that I've had since I was 19. I no longer wear them out of the house but they really are incredibly comfortable, even 16 years and many beach holidays later!

[Apatite1]

I just threw out a bunch of 5 years plus old clothes, three huge bags. V cathartic. Now I have loads more room!

[Apatite1]

I have vintage exotic skin handbags from the 50s though, they're staying.

[Snowball4girlz]

I have a purple dress from the 1990's thinking i might still get in it one day :) plus i have my designer boots from 1993. Plenty of my clothes are more than ten years old.

[Snowball4girlz]

Plius a black velour short jacket with square patches of sequins and beads that i wore with all my dresses ..my daughters fight over it now it is from 1987 think it was Clockwise at C and A.

[CeartGoLeor]

Some of these sound fabulous - does 80s count as 'vintage' these days, I wonder? I'm in envy of cresset's glamorous clothes-bequeathing grandmother and great-aunt.

[OllyBJolly]

Some of my clothes are about 30 years old - and some of my 20+ year old clothes were second hand when I got them!

I very rarely buy new - the clothes I like are too expensive for me to afford! I used to use upmarket second hand shops, but now use ebay. I just don't get this buying new clothes for holidays etc - surely shorts and teeshirt styles don't change that much?!

I think I look okay. I do a lot of public speaking, many high level meetings and even get compliments on what I wear. (Although one friend I bumped into did say he recognised my coat before he recognised me.... )

[Apatite1]

Yeah, I don't think I'm ever getting back into my size 6 clothes, im in my 30s and I am picking face over figure now!

[cressetmama]

My great-aunt was the same shape as me, and she was the darling of a rather older man who was a director of a large firm; I am told they were always out at smart parties and dinners, so she had the clothes for the life. Most of her day clothes were well worn, but coats and evening dresses have survived. If anyone needs evidence that vanity sizing is alive and well; I am an 8-12 in High Street clothing; those of her 1950s clothes that were not made-to-measure are a 16 or 18.

[bluesbaby]

Yeah, I remember exactly where all my clothes came from. I'm not a massive shopper, I tend to buy less but more expensive these days.

I'm not especially old but I do have a few things that are around a decade (or a bit longer) old. I don't wear the hotpants out of the house anymore but I love them for lounging in!
I have a leather jacket that I still wear sometimes, that is 10 years old. Bought on sale for £50 in New look!
I also recently raided my mother's wardrobe and borrowed a few evening dresses from circa 79-89. I'm set up for the next couple of years' worth of get togethers Lots of weddings to go to, so handy!

[BlueEyedWonder]

Around 4 years ago I dropped from s size 10/12 to a size 6/8. I had a big clear out and bought lots of new things. Therefore nothing in my wardrobe really much older than this. I am also ruthless when it comes to sort outs: charity shop, ebay, skip.

[Sarsparilla]

I have some coats and shoes, hats, scarves and bags from the 90s. Including some baby blue Timberland boots, that I saw a leggy young thing wearing an identical pair of the other day. Have I had them so long they have become fashionable again?
But many things I have got too "curvy" for now, especially trousers and skirts, and more fitted jackets. I expect I would have kept them otherwise. I do still have a jumper I bought just before doing my A-Levels (so mid 90s), from Dorothy Perkins, that I still wear quite often. That's baby blue as well. I used to be obsessed with the colour, never buy anything that colour now though.

DH is far worse...most of his wardrobe pre-dates our relationship (17 years). He still regularly wears a shirt that was bought for him to wear to his cousin's christening when he was a teenager. Cousin is getting married this year, we have joked he should wear the same shirt. Actually he may not have been joking...

[mewkins]

I remember buying all my clothes and I have loads! Probably the oldest are about ten years old and dresses worn to weddings etc. A couple have been worn to loads of weddings! Some of my shoes are pretty old. Dh still have stuff from his uni days! He is 40 now!

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

Nothing more than a couple of years old as got rid of all my old clothes as they didn't fit. Then lost lots of weight and so had to buy a whole new wardrobe.

I wish I had kept lots of it now, especially some of the really nice going out dresses and some fab maxi skirts I had.

[Picastyle]

Nothing in my wardrobe is over three years old. I like decluttering!

[samesizetoes]

During my late teenage year and early twenties I was a size 18-20 sometimes a 22-24. I've since lost a lot of weight and I average around size 12-14 now so all my clothes have long gone. I miss some certain items and I'm always keeping an eye out for replacements in a smaller size but there's little point in keeping clothes that don't fit.

Unless I loose anymore weight I hope my current wardrobe will last me many many years. If not, I'll recycle/resell and build a new wardrobe.

[BackforGood]

I have several things that are 30+ yrs old.
Not many I remember where I got them or why.
I remember the shoes I bought when I got married, so can date them (21yrs) and a cardi my sister knitted me which has to be over 30 yrs, as she did it when she was at University.
Then there's my FAB Gortex cagoul that I bought the first Winter after I started work - so 1981
Most things though, I just 'have', not because they were bought for any particular occasion or reason.

[Lagoonablue]

I've de littered than regretted it a few times. I lost a lot of weight and threw stuff out and now I have gained weight (needed to) and none of my current size 6 clothes fit now! I need my old clothes back!

I do have a Next long maternity cardigan from 2002 which I still wear though.

[Lagoonablue]

De cluttered.

[Seriouslyffs]

I have lots of posh day dresses I bought 20 years ago. I chose well and I still wear them!
BTW can I nominate 'a wool coat I bought in Oxford in 1997 with my first scholarship cheque' for the best stealth boast ever!

[CeartGoLeor]

Sorry, that sounded far glossier than the reality! I was a dirt-poor prole at a swanky college slightly gobsmacked by the undergraduates rocking ancestral tweeds. It was - still is! - a nice coat, though.

[dreamingofsun]

i have several pairs of gloves from the early 80's. they are starting to look a little worn now. i also have a richard's shops dress that is about 20 years old, now only good for nocking about in as it has a small hole where i caught it on the roses (fine apart from that).

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Hmmmm, I'd need to look but off the top of my head, I have a pair of black velvet trousers (BHS) that I bought when I was single (20+ years ago)

[Postchildrenpregranny]

I have a reversible (bright pink one side,black with flowers the other) Chinese silk padded jacket ,bought in Hong Hong in 1985 for about £5..Edge to edge with mandarin collar .It went to Uni with DD1 ,born the following year.I have at last lost weight and can get into again so have it back .
I also have a grey tweed jacket ,once part of a suit , that is also older than DD1
Got rid of most of my expensive work suits when I retired but kept a few jackets which are at least fifteen years old .I wear occasionally and sometimes 'lend out' .Have a lovely Alexon skirt suit which I can't bear to get rid of as it's so flattering.It sees the light at funerals !.And have very elegant three piece Jigsaw black suit , bought by daughter during temporary work at John Lewis (they got a massive discount for work clothes) and donated because she has lost a lot of weight
A beautiful red lace cocktail dress bought ,in a sale, to celebrate ,the day I found out over a year ago that the breast lumps I had were benign.Worn last Sat for the first time for a friend's sixtieth (I will keep that dress for ever)
The prettiest dress I ever had was a silk 'day'dress from Laura Ashley .Dark blue with a cornflower print .I used to wear it to work a lot and ,oddly an ex colleague mentioned it the other day .It died eventually ..Was really sad
I love clothes and have two double wardrobes full ,all now fit me and all occasionally worn though